Thomson delighted at National prospect’s weight allocation

● Seeyouatmidnight is given 10st 8lb ● £100,000 boost to Scottish National meet

Trainer Sandy Thomson expressed his satisfaction after stable star Seeyouatmidnight was allotted 10st 8lb for this year’s Randox Health Grand National on 14 April.

The ten-year-old has been sidelined by injury since finishing second over hurdles at Kelso last March, but is undoubtedly a contender for the Aintree spectacular on his best form.

On his penultimate run over fences he dominated Bristol De Mai in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Kelso and had this year’s Grand National favourite Blaklion behind him when landing the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day 2016.

Greenlaw-based Thomson said: “I hoped he might be rated 150, so to get 149 I’m very pleased. We’re delighted with where we are at the moment. He seems very well and we’re aiming for either the Premier Chase at Kelso or the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, which are both on 3 March. He has to run in a chase to qualify, so he’ll probably go for one of those. We’ll give him an entry in the threemile handicap at Cheltenham [Ultima Handicap Chase], but that would be a big ask on his first run.

“Hopefully we’ll get a run in, possibly at Kelso, and all roads will lead to Aintree then.

“Blaklion will definitely run in the National, so whatever happens our horse will carry less than 11 stone and I always think if you’re under 11 stone in these long-distance handicap chases you’re pretty well-in.”

Meanwhile, this year’s Coral Scottish Grand National Festival will be the richest ever, with a massive £714,000 in prize money – a near £100,000 increase on last year.

Run at Ayr on Friday 20 April and 21 Saturday April, the Festival features a brand new £100,000 race to be staged on the Saturday.

A three-mile open novices’ handicap chase over three miles it will be the second race on the card and becomes the third six-figure-plus race on the day alongside the £215,000 Coral Scottish Grand National and the £105,000 QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle. The race will be a championship final for novice chasers and will be supported by the BHA’S Development Fund as part of the Fund’s 2018 expenditure.

There are 15 races across the two days including two Grade 2s, a Grade 3 and two Listed Races. The principal race on the Friday is the £50,000 Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase, a Listed Race over two miles four furlongs.

At Kelso today, Cyrus Darius bids to follow up last year’s Morebattle Hurdle in the feature race over timber.

He is now trained by Ruth Jefferson and it could be an emotional occasion all round as it is the funeral of her father Malcolm on Friday.

Twelve months ago the Malton raider slammed One For Harry by seven lengths and this time he faces four rivals including progressive Better Getalong, trained by the runner-up’s handler Nicky Richards.

Lucinda Russell’s exciting prospect Big River is one of four declared for the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase, previously won by the likes of Long Run, Holywell and Unioniste. Richard Hobson’s Shantou Flyer is also interesting, having been second in Grade 3 handicaps at Cheltenham on his last two starts.

Meanwhile Jamie Hamilton rode out his claim when landing the novices’ handicap hurdle on Sandy Thomson’s Nendrum at Musselburgh yesterday.

There was drama after Silver Concorde beat The Road Home by five lengths in a match for the novices’ hurdle.

Following an objection by the clerk of scales the Derek Foxridden runner-up was disqualified after the jockey weighed in 2lbs “light”. Fox was subsequently suspended for two days and trainer Lucinda Russell fined £500.